Etsy Listings

I am happy to say I finally got some holiday ornaments and gifts listed on my etsy site, so you can click here to go see little santas, penguins and some pincushions. Hopefully I'll be putting more things up soon.

Rock Stack

Last weekend we cleaned up a small garden in the back of our house. We have a bunch of rocks that we were planning on making a garden wall with in a different part of the yard, but haven't gotten to that yet. I really like piles of rocks placed in stacks...there is a japanese name for this, but I can't remember it right now. So, I took some of the rocks and made my own little stack in the garden.

Dog Clothes

Why do we think it is so funny to dress our animals in clothes?

Rainbow

Yesterday my husband and I were driving home in the rain...the last two days have been really dreary. All of a sudden there was a break in the clouds and the sun pierced through and behind us was the most beautiful rainbow. I made him pull over so I could take a picture. By the time I took the picture there was only a small portion left, but the colors were very intense. So, here is the end of the rainbow!

Rose Hips

We have a wild rose bush growing on our land and it has developed a huge crop of beautiful rose hips. I like to gather them and dry them for decorating the house during the holidays.

Tree Hug

It looks like this photo was taken in the middle of six trees, but really I am standing in the middle of one tree! It is a tulip poplar and the trunk is very short and it quickly branches into seven large branches (although you can only see six, because one takes a sharp bend outward). They reach, it seems to me hundreds of feet into the sky. I really like standing in the middle of them. It is always peaceful and quiet.

Hope

This morning, it seems to me, there is hope in the world. I may have felt this no matter who had won the election because I am not, to say the least, a fan of George W. Bush. But last night as I watched the returns and looked at the faces of Americans on TV that were every color, age, and description I cried, more than once. If we can elect as president a person who looks different from most of us because of his ideals and the kind of person we believe him to be, maybe we can begin to look at everyone we meet with the same sense of possibility. That is hope.

Election Day

Well, it has finally come...Election Day. I went this morning at about 9:10 a.m. to cast my vote. The party of my choice was passing out cookies to those with bumper stickers toting their candidate, so I helped myself to a ginger snap. After being fortified I went inside to cast my ballot. There was no line, I walked right up to the voting official, was handed a ballot and was done in about five minutes. I was voter number 513 and the polls had been open for three hours, so it must have been really busy before that. Now for the last of the waiting.........

Hugh Grant

I really like Hugh Grant. First, I think he's cute, but I also like most of the movies he has been in. Given that, I went to Netflix and filled up the queue with Hugh Grant movies and started my own Hugh Grant film festival. So far I have seen Impromptu, About a Boy, The Englishman that Went up a Hill and Came down a Mountain. Notting Hill is the next one waiting for me. I have seen these movies before, but it is fun to re-watch what I know I like. My husband is being a good sport about it but refuses to see Notting Hill again, so I'm on my own for that one. I asked him who he would want to base a film festival around (I refuse to let it be Angelina Jolie...those lips gross me out) and he decided on Gwenyth Paltrow. I'd be happy to sit thought those films too. But for now, I'm enjoying Hugh.

Cute Santas

I made these fun little Santas. They can hang on your tree or collect a bunch and put them on your mantle. I'll be listing them on my etsy site in a day or two. I've also got some in green and blue.

Studio Fun

I have been spending a lot of time in my studio lately because there is a community market this Saturday. I'm planning on having some nice little gift items for the holidays. I made these cute little pin cushions and really had fun making them. They are made with decorator fabrics and have vintage buttons in the middle of them.

Cooking Memories

Last night, well early this morning actually, I was laying in bed not sleeping thinking about crudy stuff. I decided that I needed to change my thoughts around so I started by thinking of all of the things that I've really enjoyed cooking. I thought of a beautiful Pizza Rustica I made years ago...don't remember how it tasted but it was so pretty I took a picture of it.

Then I remembered one Christmas when I was probably in Jr. High and my dad was helping my brother and I make some appetizers for Christmas Eve dinner. We decided to make a snowman out of braunschweiger spread. It was really soft so didn't hold it's shape...and who ever heard of a pinkish-brown snowman? It had a radish root nose. We thought it was the greatest...my mom wasn't so sure though!

The great thing here is I went from being pretty down to having a good time with my memories.

Chocolates

On Friday we went down to Roanoke, Va and discovered a store called chocolatepaper. It had cases and cases of chocolates and truffles and racks and racks of funny greeting cards. The chocolate was not only candy-candy, it was also eye candy!

Of course, we got a couple of chocolates...mine was a milk chocolate turtle with cashews. It was good, but I have to say my grandmother's homemade ones were better. I may have to hunt up her recipe and try some during the holidays.

Obama Rally

Friday was my husband's birthday (50!) and we couldn't decide what to do. The night before we were listening to the news and heard that Barack Obama was going to be in Roanoke, VA for a rally. Well, that is only about an hour and a half away so we went. We got really good seats, except we were facing his back! He turned around a few times but every time he did the guy in front of me waved his little flag like crazy so my photos turned out a little weird. That is why you get to see my best photo of his backside! The whole experience of an orchestrated rally was very different from the other time I saw a president - Bill Clinton. He had already been elected, but not inaugrated and there was no stage craft in the presentation. I'll reveal it all after the election!

Heron

Every day I drive along the Rockfish River, which is quite beautiful. Often I see an amazing gray heron in the middle of the river standing on some rocks. It is such a treat to see this amazing bird. I think it is a Little Blue Heron which is shown on this page of the Roger Tory Peterson Guide to North American Birds.

Rumi

One of my favorite - actually, my very favorite - poet is Rumi, a 13th century poet and philosopher. This is one of my favorite quotes:

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing there is a field. I'll meet you there.

---Jalal ad-Din Rumi

Face Class

On Sunday I taught a class on making embroidered faces, similar to the one in the photo above. It was a great time and I'm really grateful to the nine women who took the class and made me feel welcome. For the whole story, go here.

Timberlakes

There is an old timey drugstore in town that has a lunch counter and soda fountain in the back. It is one of my favorite places to eat lunch...tuna salad on wheat with pickles, a bag of chips and a real cherry coke. The inside hasn't changed since it was built and even the women that work behind the counter have 50's hairdos. It is a real blast from the past.

Fall Picnic

On Saturday I went out to Beaver Creek Reservoir with my husband and had an impromptu picnic lunch. It was a beautiful day. As I walked along the water little minnows scurried around and frogs plopped in the water.

I also came upon a bright cardinal flower standing all by itself along the water's edge

and a cork floating in the weeds.

Signs of Autumn

This morning I went to the Charlottesville City Market and took my camera. The air is cool - not crisp yet, but very nice. I saw lots of signs of fall, pumpkins, squash, gourds and mums. There is a football game today as well. Enjoy the images.



I also saw my old friend Jackie who makes all sorts of lotions and potions, spins her own yarn and makes sweet little knitted stuffed bunnies.

Advent Calendars

In July I was commissioned to replicate an old advent calendar for a customer. She wanted four of them to give to her grandchildren. It was quite a bit of work because each calendar had 24 little ornaments-one for each day of December-that get snapped onto a tree. If you are doing any multiplying that is 96 ornaments...whew! This morning is finished the last stitches and got them to her. She was happy and so was I!

Chicken Story

My friend Connie lives on a beautiful piece of land where she raises ducks, chickens and has an old golden retriever. The ducks are pets with names and Connie and her family eat the eggs, which she says are wonderful. They got a flock of chickens awhile ago to raise for the eventual purpose of dinner. There was one chicken in the flock they named Leghorn who was an unusual breed. When it came time to take the flock off to their end Leghorn escaped that fate and stayed on.

It turns out she missed her chicken friends and decided to make pals with the ducks. Everyday she would go down to the pond with them, but the ducks would go in the water and chickens hate water, so still she was lonely. She turned to the dog for companionship and the dog, surprisingly didn't mind. They have gotten to be such good friends that Leghorn will find the dog lying down, walk up on his back and pluck the ticks and fleas off of him. Connie says the dog has never been so free of ticks. What an odd symbiotic relationship!

Clouds of Pink

Last fall a cloud of pink flowers appeared on a strange plant that is at the bottom of our driveway. I took a sample of it to the farmers market to see if anyone could tell me what it was and found out it is called Japanese Knotweed. It appears in the spring as strong stems that look like bamboo and grows about eight feet tall. In September large clumps of tiny flowers appear. They start as a pale pink and then open up to a beautiful pink. Unfortunately these are incredibly invasive plants but a really great flash of color when most flowers are finished.

Magical Driveway Watermelon

We have had a vine growing near where we park our car for some time. We knew it was a volunteer but weren't sure what fruit it would be producing. We checked a few times and there were lots of flowers but no fruit....until two days ago! We found a small oval shaped thing. We weren't sure if it was a cucumber, zucchini or melon. Then we lifted it and it was so heavy we decided it must be a watermelon. Last summer we bought a few miniature watermelons at the farmers market and this must be one of the off-spring. What is kind of funny is it is growing from this compost pile but underneath is mostly gravel. If you've ever read The Findhorn Garden you would think we have spirits and faries around the place. Actually, I think we do!

Birthday Celebrations

Well, I turned 50. Surprisingly it was not traumatic...I think I have been thinking about being 50 for about a year so that may have something to do with it. My husband sort of surprised me (he gave me so many hints I pretty much knew everything) by arranging for some friends to meet us at a local music venue and we heard some good music and ate some great food. That was a few days before the actual day. We had a nice dinner at a local restaurant on the day and a friend took me out for lunch yesterday. The celebration may continue for a few more days as I connect with more friends. It has been fun and there is still some cake left!

Just a Happy Day

Well, I don't really have a subject today, but I thought these monkeys were funny. I took the photo this summer when we went to the county fair.

I had a great time speaking with the doll club in Richmond on Wednesday, but forgot to take my camera with me. The women were very nice and several more signed up to take the classes I will be teaching in October.

We continue to get more rain, which is great. The grass has gotten pretty long in just the last two days, so the mower needs to be employed soon.

My husband is planning a "surprise" 50th birthday party for me on Saturday. He isn't very good at keeping it a secret. Someone will call him about the party and loudly he will say "Oh, hi ________. I can't talk right now Susan is here." And then he'll barely move out of earshot. He really wants me to know he is planning something...and I do. Maybe he is the monkey!

Lecture

Tonight I'll be in Richmond giving a talk about the dolls I make. The talk will be at Quilting Adventures from 6-8 and I will be speaking with their doll club. I think it should be a lot of fun and hopefully will have photos to post tomorrow. If you happen to be in the Richmond Virginia area come by.

Nameless Textile Group Meeting

Yesterday my textile group with no name met (we have been trying to come up with a name for about eight months now). We hadn't gotten together since May...once kids get out of school everyone seems to get too busy to find a common time to get together.

We caught up, laughed, told stories and had a good time. We have set up projects for ourselves and some are still finishing old ones. There was one that didn't inspire me (Medusa warmth...not sure what to do with that), so I'm skipping it. We decided on a small project (extra credit and optional) to make a dish towel, which could be functional or not. It is supposed to have a local theme as well...we defined local quite broadly, like we live in this state, in our country, on our planet and in the Milky Way. I'm guessing anything goes. I'll post a photo when I get it done.

Hands

I had a massage today and it was wonderful. Helaine, the massage therapist, has hands that are magic. She is able to get all of the kinks and lumps out of my muscles.

These are not actually her hands, but I wanted a photo of some hands, so my husband filled in.

Max

Max is the only pet I have that, up until now, had not made her appearance on this blog. Max is one of a kind. When we first adopted Max and her sister Phoebe, we kept them away from our other cat until they had all of their shots. The day I let them out seemed normal enough until I got my lunch. I took it into the living room, put it on the coffee table and sat down on the floor to watch the news and eat as I usually did. From out of nowhere came this flying kitten, who grabbed at my sandwich and tried to make off with it. That is how things started and after thirteen years, not much has changed. We now lock Max in her own special room whenever we get out food.

So, why is Max one of my blessings? Well, I really believe that everything that presents itself in my life is to inform me and teach me something. I think Max's lesson to me is to go after my dreams with persistence and determination.

I think Max's greatest dream is to be left alone in the house (no dog to find out what she is doing and thwart the effort) with the refrigerator door wide open and stocked with tuna salad, a whole roast chicken and maybe even an open carton of milk which could be knocked over easily to wash it all down. I think the lesson Max needs to learn from me is self-control!

Lists of Four

I saw this great list on coyote craft and thought I would add to the fun.

Four places I go over and over: the grocery store, Java Java, my studio, the bathroom(!)

Four people who e-mail me regularly: Art Doll Cool Aberation, John, Barnes, Noble

Four places I would like to be right now: My studio, Nags Head, Bar Harbor Maine, Minneapolis

Four TV shows/programs I watch over and over: Well, we have one channel, so I dont really watch anything over and over, so I'm changing the question. The four radio show I listen to over and over are Talk of the Nation, Diane Rehm Show, Morning Edition and All Things Considered.

Four things I have for breakfast: coffee, half and half, oatmeal, bananas

Four animals I like best: Cats, Dogs (mine especially) rabbits, wild birds

Four beaches I have been to: Nags Head NC, St John USVI, Bornholm Denmark, Rehoboth Beach DE

It's September

Well, it's September. School has started again, leaves will be turning soon, apples are ripening and squirrels gathering nuts are everywhere. I hope you have a good September. Happy Birthday Mom!

Thanks to all of you that left comments. I really enjoyed reading about your happy moments and adding to the wonder.

Add to the Wonder

Hi, I know I have folks who look at this blog and I was wondering, what is going great in your life? Add a comment to my blog so you can share the joy. Nothing helps it expand like writing it down and sharing it. Hope to hear from you and I hope you enjoy this great image from the farmers market. What abundance!

Susan

Doll Round Robin

I belong to an on-line art doll round robin where everyone in the group started a doll and then sent it to another person to add to it. In all the dolls will go to eight people before they return to the person that started them. I have been working on "Colette" who was started by Gloria in New Jersey. I made her a face and gave her some arms and hands as well as a small bouquet of glass flowers. This has been a lot of fun and the dolls are going all over the world. Mine will be going to England, Japan and Australia as well as many places in the U.S.

Rain

Every August I think the trees look so tired, their leaves turn a dull green and lifeless. This year it seems even more so because we have had so little rain. Today the remnants of hurricane Fay arrived and it is predicted to rain until Friday. The trees will be much happier. I'm grateful for the rain.

Haven Kimmel

Several months ago I read a great book called "A Girl Named Zippy" by Haven Kimmel. It is a memoir of her childhood and I don't think I have ever read a book that made me laugh out loud so much. This woman is hysterical. I was recently at a book sale and found her second book, "She Got Up Off the Couch." This is also a memoir of her childhood, focusing on her mother.

She is somehow able to tell her tales from the voice of a seven year old with a snarky edge, which is my kind of humor. If you really need a laugh read Haven Kimmel.

Wildlife Galore

The end of last week was an amazing animal week. My husband was out walking the dog and he came in quite excited. Our dog, Tia started barking at a treetop, John looked up and saw a gorilla like thing. It started down the tree and it was a bear! Fortunately they each went in opposite directions. That same day starlings were circling our house and congregating in the trees, eating and chattering away. We also saw a pair of hummingbirds, rabbits, butterflies and as always deer galore!

I have Animal Medicine Cards by Jamie Sams which goes through Native American meanings of animals and it was really interesting to go through all of the animals. I am happy to report, good things are coming our way!!!!

Peaches and Great Views

Today we decided to go up to Carter's Mountain Orchard. As suggested by the name it is on top of a mountain. They grow apples, peaches and grapes. We picked up half a peck of peaches and plan to indulge in them all week. Nothing like fresh picked peaches. The views on top of the mountain are spectacular too.

Wedding Album Rescue

Yesterday my husband and I were delivering some stuff to our business and we were taking it in through the back alley entrance. We noticed someone had discarded a box a few feet away from the door so John took it to the trash area. When he dropped it he noticed a card fell out of it. He went and looked at it and discovered the contents were someones brand new wedding photo album.

Apparently someone had stolen it off a FedEx truck opened it, checked the card for money and discarded it in the alley. There was a NYC photographer listed as the shipper with a phone number. I called her and got the phone number of the bride. We called her and had it in her hands in about twenty minutes. We got to be heroes! It felt great!

Sean and Roy

This is Sean and Roy. They are great baristas and they make me laugh. Laughing is good!

Onion Inspiration

I took this photo of onions at the Farmer's Market on Saturday and was inspired to make one of my favorite recipes, Onion and Cheese Pizza. It is from Jane Brody's Good Food Book, one of my oldest, well-worn cookbooks.

Onion and Cheese Pizza

Crust
1 cup warm water (105-115 degrees)
1 pkg (1 scant tablespoon) active dry yeast
1 tsp. honey or sugar
1 Tbsp oil
1/2 tsp. salt, if desired
1 1/2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 to 1 1/2 cups (approximately) all-purpose flour

To prepare the crust:
1. Place the warm water in a large bowl. Add the yeast and honey, stirring to dissolve the ingredients. Let the mixture stand 5 to 15 minutes or until it is bubbly.
2. Add the oil, salt, whole-wheat flour and about 1 cup of the all-purpose flour, or enough to form a ball of dough that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
3. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and knead the dough for about 5 minutes, adding more all-purpose flour as needed to make a firm, smooth dough that is not sticky.
4. Place the dough in a greased bowl, turning the dough to grease the top, cover the bowl lightly with plastic wrap, and set the dough aside in a warm, draft-free place to rise until it has doubled in bulk.

Topping

1 Tbsp butter or margarine

3 large onions, thinly sliced (3 cups)

2 Tbsp grainy mustard

8 - 12 ounces Fontina or Fontal cheese coarsely shredded

1 Tbsp minced fresh parsley

1/2 tsp dried thyme

To Assemble the Pizza

5. While the dough is rising, melt the butter or margarine in a heavy skillet, add the onions, cover the skillet, and cook the onions over low heat for about 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Uncover the skillet, turn the heat up to medium, and continue to cook the onions, stirring them, for about 10 minutes longer or until they are golden. Remove them from the heat.

6. When the dough has risen, set the rack of your oven on the lowest rung and preheat the oven to 475.

7. Punch down the dough, divide it in half, and roll out half the dough (save the other half for another time or double the topping recipe given here) on a lightly floured surface into a 13-inch round, or 1 inch wider than your pan. Place the dough in a lightly oiled 12-inch round pan with a slightly raised edge or on a flat baking sheet and form a raised edge with the dough.

8. Spread the mustard on the dough, scatter the onions evenly over it, sprinkle the cheese over the onions, and top with the parsley and thyme. Place the pie in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

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Enjoy!